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BIOGRAPHY 



Elder LOTT CARY, 



LATE MISSIONARY TO AFRICA. 



By J. B. TATLOB, 

Pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. 



Wtittfy an ^ppenXrt); on tfje subject of <£oiotu?atfon, 



By J. H. B. LATROBE, Esq. 
President of the Maryland State Colonization Society. 




______ 



BALTIMORE: 

ARMSTRONG &. BERRY. 
J. W. Woods, print. 

18 3 7. 



P CO 



COPY-RIGHT SECURED, ACCORDING TO LAW. 



J£*7 



CONTENTS. 



Preface, 5 

Lott Cary's birth — early history — removal to Rich- 
mond — vicious character — conversion, . . 10 

Taught to read — interesting circumstances connect- 
ed therewith, 11 

Begins preaching — makes great advances in know- 
ledge, 12 

Unequalled abilities for business, ... 13 

Purchases his freedom — second marriage — salary — 

ambition to be useful, &c. . . . .14 

His feelings aroused for the spiritual condition of 
Africa — formation of the Richmond African 
Missionary Society, 15 

Struggles between worldly advantages and duty, . ib. 

Determines to remove to Africa— correspondence 

relating thereto, 17 

Is patronized by the American Colonization Society 
and recognized as a missionaiy by the Baptist 
General Convention — instructions from their 
Board, 21 

Farewell sermon in Richmond, .... 23 

Ordained and set apart, along with Collin Teage, as 
missionaries to Africa, and their correspondence 
relating thereto, 25, 26 



IV CONTENTS. 

Departure for, and arrival in, Africa, ... 27 

Letter from, . . . ■ 32 

Sickness and trials — death of his wife, and letter 

concerning, ...*... 33 

Appointed health officer, 33 

Letter from, . 36 

Opinion of him by the General Agent, . . .37 

Kind feelings and charities to the emigrants, . 39 

His participation in some acts of insubordination, . 40 

Letter from, 42 

Becomes physician for the colony, . . . .44 

Interesting letters from, . . . . . 43 

Account of native man John, 48 

Requested by the American Colonization Society 

to visit the United States, and letter from the 

governor, Mr. Ashmun, .... 57 

Disappointed in his visit, and letters concerning it, <J1 

Resolutions of the Baptist General Convention, . 65 

Elected Vice-agent of the colony, ... 63 

Letters from, 67, 72 

Acting Governor of the colony, .... 74 
Extracts from his Journal, . . . . .75 
Copy of deed with the African kings, . . .73 

Celebration of the 4th July, .... 84 

Extracts from his letters, 85 

His death — further account of, . . . 92 
Tribute to his memory by the Richmond African 

Missionary Society, 93 

A summary of his character, .... 95 

Appendix . . .99 



PREFACE. 



That Africa has peculiar claims on the sym- 
pathies of the Christian world, is beginning to be 
admitted by many who have hitherto remained 
idle spectators of her degradation and misery. 
It may well occasion surprise and regret, that 
these claims have been so long disregarded. 
Difficult indeed will it be to make full amends for 
the injuries she has received from civilized na- 
tions, yet some atonement may be given by 
pouring upon her dark shores the light of divine 
truth, and aiding her to rise and occupy that 
position to which she is fairly entitled. 



VI PREFACE. 

One of the most effectual means of elevating 
the moral condition of Africa, is to be found in 
the encouragement of intelligent and pious col- 
ored men to locate in different portions of her 
wide-spread territory. Though white men may 
and ought to enter this field, yet the indications 
of Providence, thus far, have been in favor of 
making our colored brethren the chief instru- 
ments in this labor of love. 

The author of the following pages has indulged 
the hope that in presenting the memoir of Lott 
Gary, he might, in more respects than one, render 
service to this important object. If he shall 
awaken among the benevolent, in general, a new 
interest on behalf of Africa, or rouse any of his 
colored brethren, in particular, to feel an obliga- 
tion to labor for her salvation, he will be amply 
compensated in preparing this work for the press. 
It is his ardent desire, and prayer to God, that 
Africa may be saved — nor is he alone in cher- 
ishing these feelings. Thousands, in every sec- 



PREFACE. Vll 

tion of our country, are supplicating the Divine 
throne on her behalf. May that time speedily- 
come, when her deserts shall rejoice and blossom 
as the rose. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



That God is no respecter of persons, is a truth 
as well established, as it is grateful to the gener- 
ous mind. No complexion or condition is thrown 
beyond the pale of divine benevolence, for in 
Christ Jesus "there is neither Greek, nor Jew, bar- 
barian, Scythian, bond nor free.'' While the 
riches of redeeming love may be shared alike by 
all, there is also a very equitable distribution of 
intellectual endowments among all classes of men. 
Like the pure gold buried amidst baser metals, the 
mind, vigorous in itself, may be allowed by him 
who gives it existence to remain undeveloped and 
unimproved — or, under most unfavorable circum- 
stances, he may wake to action, energies which for 
a time have lain dormant, and exhibit to an ad- 



10 BIOGRAPHY OF 

miring world, the spectacle of intellectual and 
moral greatness, unaccompanied by the tinsel of 
wealth, or the polish of education. Such an ex- 
hibition is furnished in the subject of this sketch 

Lott Cary was born a slave about the year 1780 
thirty miles below the cky of Richmond, in the 
county of Charles City. His father was an emi 
nently pious member of the Baptist denomination, 
and his mother, although unconnected with any 
church, gave pleasing evidence that she had pass 
ed from death unto life. He was their only child 
From the character which his parents sustained 
no room is left to doubt that they endeavored to 
bring him up in the fear and admonition of the 
Lord. 

Nothing can be learned of his early history. 
Whether in the days of childhood and youth, he 
exhibited indications of vigorous intellect, or of 
special seriousness on eternal realities, is not 
known. In the year 1804, he was removed from his 
native county to the city of Richmond, and em- 
ployed asa commonlaborer in the Shockoe tobacco 
warehouse. At that time he had become rather 
dissipated in his habits, being frequently intoxi- 
cated, and allowing himself to indulge in profane 
swearing. He became increasingly vicious for 



LOTT CARY. 11 

two or three years after his settlement in Rich- 
mond. But the reign of iniquity was cut short by 
the interposing hand of omnipotent grace. Hav- 
ing been led to the discovery of his ruined condi- 
tion as a rebel against the skies, he turned to the 
Lord with full purpose of heart, and rejoiced in 
Christ Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. An im- 
mediate and remarkable change was discovered in 
his life. He whose tongue was wont to profane 
the name of the Most High, was now taught to 
address him in accents of prayer and praise. He 
was baptized by Elder John Courtney, and joined 
the first Baptist church in the city of Richmond 
in the year 1807. 

At this time he was exceedingly ignorant, not 
knowing even the alphabet. The circumstances 
which led to the improvement of his mental 
powers were somewhat remarkable. They were 
doubtless under the superintendence of an invisi- 
ble agent, who, in his wonder working power 
and mercy, designed to effect great results by 
means of this illiterate slave. He often chooses 
"the weak things of the world to confound the 
things that are mighty, and base things of the 
world, and things which are despised, hath God 
chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring 



12 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to nought things that are, that no flesh should 
glory in his presence." Being a regular attend- 
ant on the ministry of Elder Courtney, he heard 
his pastor deliver a discourse on one occasion, on 
the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus, 
and became so deeply interested in the rich truths 
contained in that portion of the sacred pages, 
that he determined to become qualified to read it 
for himself. Accordingly he procured a Testa- 
ment, and commenced learning his letters in the 
chapter referred to, nor did he rest satisfied until 
he had accomplished his purpose. Some assist- 
ance was rendered by young gentlemen, at the 
warehouse, and in a short time he was able with 
distinctness to read the third chapter of John. 
He soon afterwards learned to write. 

About this period he began to hold meetings 
among the colored people of Richmond, and to 
exhort them to flee the wrath to come. After a 
sufficient trial of his capacity to be useful as a 
public speaker, the church encouraged him to ex- 
ercise his gifts in preaching the gospel. Not only 
did he labor among those of his own color in the 
city of Richmond, but in all the surrounding coun- 
try. He now applied himself diligently to the im- 
provement of his mind, and for several years 



LOTT CARY. 



13 



made advances in knowledge. His leisure time at 
the warehouse was employed iu reading, and it is 
said that a gentleman on one occasion taking up 
a book which he had left for a i"ew moments, found 
it to be "Smith's Wealth of Nations." While 
thus engaged in storing his mind with valuable 
information, he was kindly assisted by two or three 
benevolent individuals, who took a lively interest 
in his prosperity. While an increasing interest in 
the work of preaching the gospel was cherished, 
he became more and more respected, and Useful 
in his services at the warehouse. A brother 
who was intimately acquainted with him, states 
"that his services at the warehouse were highly 
estimated, but of their real value no one except a 
dealer in tobacco can form an idea. Notwith- 
standing the hundreds of hogsheads that were 
committed to his charge, he could produce any 
one the instant it was called for; and the ship- 
ments were made with a promptness and correct- 
ness, such as no person, white or black, has equal- 
led in the same situation. For this correctness 
and fidelity, he was highly esteemed and fre- 
quently rewarded by the merchant with a five 
dollar note. He was allowed, also, to sell for his 
2* 



14 BIOGRAPHY OP 

own benefit, many small parcels of waste to- 
bacco." 

In the year 1813, having by rigid economy 
accumulated a considerable sum, with the assist- 
ance of the merchants to whose interests he had 
been devoted, he purchased the freedom of him- 
self and two children, for $850. He had pre- 
viously lost his first wife by death, and about the 
year 1815, was married a second time. He now 
received a regular salary, which from time to time 
was increased; until the year before he left the 
warehouse, it amounted to $800 per annum. 
During this period, he also made frequent pur- 
chases and shipments of tobacco, on his own ac- 
count: in one instance to the number of twenty- 
four hogsheads. 

In his history thus far, the ennobling influence 
of the gospel is pre-eminently seen. Not only is 
he snatched as a brand from the fire of perdition, 
but his whole moral and intellectual character be- 
came most astonishingly elevated. He began to 
feel the true dignity of his station, as a redeemed 
sinner, and to be inspired with a holy ambition to 
make his influence beneficially felt in this apostate 
world. 

Some time about the year 1815, he was, to a 



LOTT GARY, 15 

great extent, instrumental in awakening among 
his colored brethren in the city of Richmond, a 
lively interest on behalf of the spiritual condition 
of Africa. This was shortly after the formation 
of the Baptist General Convention. Missionary 
intelligence was at different times placed within 
his reach; and his own heart becoming affected 
by the miserable condition of the heathen world, 
he soon communicated something of his own feel- 
ings to those by whom he was surrounded. This 
resulted in the origination of the Richmond Afri- 
can Missionary Society, which for several years 
contributed from one hundred to one hundred and 
fifty dollars for the African mission. But he was 
not satisfied with these efforts. The solemn re- 
sponsibility of carrying, in person, the words of 
everlasting life, was most deeply felt by him. The 
word of the Lord was like fire in his bones, and 
it could not be resisted. The struggle between 
worldly advantage, and an imperious sense of duty, 
was long and desperate. On the one hand, he 
was comfortably settled in his native state; was 
the possessor of a small farm, and, high in the 
confidence of his employers and the public gene- 
rally, was receiving for his services a handsome 
salary; beside, he was the object of universal af- 



16 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ection, as a preacher among the people of his own 
color; they exercised almost unbounded confidence 
in him. On the other hand, the facilities for labor- 
ing in Africa, were far from being numerous; the 
climate was sickly, and there was a strong proba- 
bility that he would early fall a victim to the Afri- 
can fever. But none of these things moved him; 
he was willing to leave all, and to venture all for 
Christ, and for the sake of those who were perish- 
ing for lack of vision, in a far distant land. When 
a ministering brother inquired, why he could de- 
termine to quit a station of so much comfort and 
usefulness, to encounter the dangers of an African 
climate, and hazard every thing to plant a colony 
on a distant heathen shore; — his reply was to this 
effect: "I am an African, and in this country, how. 
ever meritorious my conduct, and respectable my 
character, I cannot receive the credit due to either. 
I wish to go to a country where I shall be esti- 
mated by my merits, not by my complexion; and 
I feel bound to labor for my suffering race." He 
seemed to have imbibed the sentiment of Paul, 
and to have great heaviness and continual sorrow 
in his heart, for his brethren, his kinsmen accord- 
ing to the flesh. When it was ascertained by his 
employers, that he was contemplating a removal 



LOTT CARY. 17 

to Africa, they offered to raise his salary to $1000, 
if he would remain in this country. But this in. 
ducement had no influence in changing his views 
of duty. 

Early in the year 1819, the Journal of Messrs. 
Mills and Burgess, in their exploring agency for 
the American Colonization Society, on the coast 
of Africa, was published; and, also, several letters 
from colored residents at Sierra Leone, inviting 
the free colored people of the United States to 
come and join them. These produced an im- 
mediate determination in Lott Cary and Collin 
Teage, to remove to Africa. The following ex- 
tract of a letter, written by Mr. William Crane to 
Rev. O. B. Brown, of Washington city — then a 
member of the board of managers of the American 
Colonization Society, and also of the board of the 
Baptist General Convention — was the means of 
their becoming connected with both these bodies. 
It is dated 

"Richmond, March 28th, 1819. 

"You will probably recollect, that I introduced 

you to two of our colored brethren in this place, 

who are accustomed to speak in public: one named 

Collin Teage, the other Lott Cary. Ever since 



18 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the missionary subject has been so much agitated 
in this country, these two brethren, associated with 
many others, have been wishing they could, in 
some way, aid their unhappy kindred in Africa; 
and 1 suppose you have heard of their having 
formed a missionary society for this sole purpose. 
Some letters published in No. VI. of the Lumi- 
nary, have served to awaken them effectually. 
They are now determined to go themselves to 
Africa; and the only questions with them are, in 
what way will it be best for them to proceed? and 
what previous steps are requisite to be taken? 
They think it necessary to spend some time in 
study first. They both possess industry and abili- 
ties, such as, with the blessing of Providence, 
would soon make them rich. It is but two or three 
years since either of them enjoyed their freedom; 
and both have paid large sums for their families. 
They now possess but little, except a zealous wish 
to go and do what they can. Brother Lott has a 
wife and several little children. He has a place a 
little below Richmond, that cost him $1500, but 
will probably not sell for more than $1000, at this 
time. Brother Collin has a wife, a son of fourteen 
years of age, and a daughter of eleven, for whom 
he has paid $1300, and has scarcely any thing 



LOTT CARY. 19 

left. Both their wives are Baptists; their children, 
amiable and docile, have been to school consider- 
ably; and I hope, if they go, will likewise be of 
service. Collin is a saddler and harness maker. 
He had no early education. The little that he 
has gained, has been by chance and piece-meal. 
He has judgment, and as much keenness of penetra- 
ation as almost any man. He can read, though 
he is not a good reader, and can write so as to 
make out a letter. The little knowledge he has 
of figures, has been gained by common calcula- 
tions in business. Lott was brought up on a farm; 
and for a number of years has been chief man- 
ager among the laborers in the largest tobacco 
warehouse in this city. He has charge of re- 
ceiving, marking, and shipping tobacco; and the 
circumstance that he receives $700 a-year wages 
may help you to form an estimate of the man. 
He reads better than Collin, and is, in every 
respect, abetter scholar. They have been trying 
to preach about ten or eleven years, and are both 
about forty years of age. 

"They would be glad to receive the patronage 
of some public body, and wish advice how to pro- 
ceed. I had thought of addressing the Corres- 
ponding Secretary on their behalf, for the patron- 



20 BIOGRAPHY OP 

age of the American Baptist Mission Society; but 
again thought, that the Colonization Society 
might be pleased with taking them under their 
care, and that their mission might bear a more 
imposing aspect under the auspices of this society 
than it would with the Baptists alone. But should 
they go under the Colonization Society, they 
would still feel themselves attached to the mis- 
sion cause, and would wish some connexion with 
the general board. We are desirous of your 
thoughts upon the subject. In a little time they 
can be ready to engage. They would go to Sierra 
Leone, but will submit that to the decision of 
their patrons. It would, I suppose, be some- 
where between the tropics, on the western coast. 
Their object is to carry the tidings of salvation to 
the benighted Africans. They wish to be where 
their color will be no disparagement to their use- 
fulness. I suppose the funds of our African 
Mission Society here, after their next meeting, 
on Monday after Easter, will probably amount to 
six hundred dollars, which I believe the society 
will be willing to appropriate to the aid of their 
brethren, should they go. Brother Bryce will 
also write to you on this subject." 

On the presentation of this letter, they were 



LOTT CARY. 21 

immediately received as emigrants by the board of 
the Colonization Society, and at the meeting of 
the board of the Baptist General Convention, in 
April, they were both recognized as their mission- 
aries; a variety of obstacles, however, prevented 
their departure till January, 1821. The year 
1820 was devoted to study with a view to their 
future usefulness in Africa. The following brief 
extract from the instructions of the board of the 
convention, deserves a place here. 

"Philadelphia, Jan. 6, 1821. 
"The board of managers of the General Con- 
vention of the Baptist denomination in the United 
States, to their colored brethren Collin Teage 
and Lott Cary, present the assurance of their 
sincere and affectionate esteem. They have 
heard with pleasure, that, by a vessel about to 
sail from Norfolk to the coast of Africa, an 
opportunity is presented for accomplishing those 
benevolent desires which, for many months past, 
you have been led to entertain. At the same time, 
they possess a deep anxiety for your preservation, 
in a country where so many colonists have recently 
found a grave. They most fervently commend 
you to the gracious protection of that God in 



22 BIOGRAPHY OF 

whose hand your breath is, and whose are all 
your ways. May you make the Lord your refuge, 
even the Most High your habitation. It is a 
source of much encouragement, that you will be 
able to collect useful information from the expe- 
rience of your predecessors; and it is hoped that, 
by the advice of your brethren who have already 
reached the shores of your forefathers, you will 
be enabled to adopt the most prudent measures 
for the health and safety of yourselves and fami- 
lies. 

"The board earnestly recommend, what they 
cheerfully anticipate, that your conduct before 
your fellow passengers on the ocean, be pious and 
exemplary. Endeavor to secure their good will 
by every office of kindness; and, above all, cherish 
and discover a solemn concern for their everlast- 
ing salvation. Arrived in Africa, you will find 
much that will require patience, and prudence, 
and mutual counsel. You will have to bear with 
prejudices, that have descended on the minds of 
the inhabitants, after having been cherished for 
ages, and to instil the sacred truths of the gos- 
pel with meekness and wisdom. While your 
conduct shall be without blame, the board advise 
you, in your ministry, to dwell much on the doc- 



LOTT CARY. 23 

trine of the cross, a doctrine which has been 
found in every age of the church of Christ, the 
power of God. 

"They pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ may be with you, with your families, and 
with all who sail or settle with you; and that 
the American Colonization Society, and all its 
sister institutions, may be rendered instrumental 
in diffusing literary, economical, and evangelical 
light, from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good 
Hope, and from the Atlantic to the Red Sea and 
Indian Ocean. 

"By order of the board, 

Wm. Staughton, Cor. Sec'y." 

Within a few days after the reception of this 
letter, an opportunity of sailing for the field of 
their labors occurred. Elder Cary delivered a 
farewell sermom in the meeting house of the 
First Baptist church, Richmond. It was a melting 
season. His auditors hung with intense earnest- 
ness upon his parting words, many of them sor- 
rowing that they should see his face no more. 
His discourse was founded on Romans viii, 32. 
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered 
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also, 



24 BIOGRAPHY OF 

freely give us all things." His sermon was well 
arranged throughout, was entirely clear of the 
senseless rant too common with many pious col- 
ored preachers. He spoke with a deep sense of 
the weighty character he had assumed — and en- 
larged particularly, with amazing pathos on the 
freeness of the salvation disclosed in his text. He 
urged as an example worthy the imitation of men, 
the amazing love of God in not withholding his 
own Son, when a race of miserable sinners were 
exposed to the curse of his violated law, and 
dwelt much on the disinterested and immeasura- 
ble sacrifice which the Father of spirits had made. 
It is to be regretted that portions of this discourse 
could not have been preserved, as it is said by 
those who were present, that it contained many 
touches of the true sublime. In the close of his 
sermon he remarked in substance: "I am about 
to leave you, and expect to see your faces no more. 
I long to preach to the poor Africans the way of 
life and salvation. 1 don't know what may befall 
me, whether I may find a grave in the ocean, or 
among the savage men, or more savage wild 
beasts on the coast of Africa; nor am 1 anxious 
what may become of me. I feel it my duty to go, 
and I very much fear, that many of those who 



L0TT GARY. 25 

preach the gospel in this country, will blush when 
the Saviour calls them to give an account of their 
labors in his cause, and tells them, 'I commanded 
you to go into all the world, and preach the gospel 
to every creature;' and with the most thrilling 
emphasis, looking round on his audience, he ex- 
claimed, the Saviour may ask, where have you 
been? where have you been? what have you been 
doing? have you endeavored to the utmost of your 
ability to fulfil the commands I gave you? or have 
you sought your own gratification, and your own 
ease, regardless of my commands?'' 

Collin Teage, who was for many years fre- 
quently associated with him in preaching, in and 
about Richmond, and whose opinion may deserve 
some weight, was in the habit of saying soberly, 
that he considered his brother Cary, the greatest 
preacher he was in the habit of hearing. They 
were both publicly ordained and set apart as mis- 
sionaries to Africa, in the First Baptist church in 
Richmond, of which church they were both mem- 
bers. A few days before he sailed he wrote, in 
conjunction with Elder Collin Teage, to the cor- 
responding secretary of the board, as follows: 
3* 



26 BIOGRAPHY OF 

"Richmond, January llth, 1821. 

"Rev. and dear sir, 

We have no other way to express our grati- 
tude to the board but through you. We feel very 
much rejoiced that we have now to communicate 
to you, that our long beclouded prospect of get- 
ting to Africa, has opened upon us. We expect 
to leave here with our families to-morrow morning 
on our way to Norfolk, there to remain but a very 
few days, before we shall hoist our sails for Africa 
in the brig Nautilus, with our bibles, and our uten- 
sils, and our hopes in God our Saviour. 

"But we must not omit to beg that the board will 
receive our thanks for the assistance we have re- 
ceived from them, and particularly for the very 
kind letters we have received from you this day; 
and we are happy to inform them that through 
their favor, and the kindness and assistance of our 
friends here, we think we are supplied with what 
may be necessary for our comfort for some time, 
more especially, as we understand, that provisions 
are supplied by government. We expect to write 
to you when we arrive at our destined place, and 
will always be grateful to you for any communica- 



LOTT CARY. 27 

tions you may send us. Yours, in the bonds of 
the gospel, 



"Rev. Dr. Staughton." 



Lott Cary, 
Collin Teage." 



On the 23rd of January, with his companions, 
he sailed in the Nautilus for the coast of Africa. 
In bidding farewell to his beloved friends the 
morning he left Richmond, he manifested a ten- 
derness of spirit united with a dignity of manner, 
becoming one who was to sustain the character 
of a missionary of the cross. The step he was 
about to take was not to promote his own aggran- 
dizement; nor was he influenced by some sudden 
impulse of feeling. He had counted the cost* 
He actually made a sacrifice of all his worldly pos- 
sessions, and was prepared to meet even bonds and 
death, in carrying out the purpose of his heart. 
All this he indicated when he gave the parting 
hand to those he was no more to behold this side 
the grave. There was a moral sublimity in the 
spectacle — which left an impression on some 
hearts never to be erased. They reached their 
destination after a passage of forty-four days — the 
following letter addressed to Dr. Staughton refers 



28 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to their safe arrival and the prospects of the 
mission. 

"Free Town, March 13th, 1821. 
"Rev. and dear sir, 

I am happy that an opportunity is now af- 
forded, to inform the board through you, that we 
all arrived safe in Africa. We had a long passage 
of forty-four days, yet we were wonderfully pre- 
served by the great ruler of the winds and seas. 
Our captain informed us that he was never so long 
out with less apparent danger. 1 suppose we had 
as much sea sickness as common, but no deaths, 
except a child about a year old, the youngest 
child of Mrs. Coker. It is not common to see a 
ship's crew as orderly during a long passage, as 
those on board of the brig Nautilus. You must 
know, that any captain having on board, men, 
women, and children, has a great deal to encoun- 
ter; and unless he has the fear of God or his own 
credit at heart, he will follow the too common 
habits among seamen. But notwithstanding cap- 
tain Blair had his beckets lost, and the men 
women, and children in his way, I must say, that 
from his lips, I never heard one word of profane 
swearing during the passage. He often received 



LOTT CARY. 29 

things more like a Christian than a seafaring cap- 
tain, I hope the board will pray for him. 

I am truly sorry that the hopes of the board, 
cannot be realized, as to our missionary labors, 
for, as it pleased you to have us connected with 
the Colonization Society, and the agents of the 
society upon their arrival here, finding their pros- 
pects of getting lands very gloomy, so much so, 
that they disowned us as colonists; and the govern- 
ment's agent had captured Africans, for whom 
he was bound, by the laws of the United States, 
to procure a place, in order to settle them, or until 
there can be a more permanent settlement ob- 
tained, the agent received us as laborers and me- 
chanics, to be settled with them, in order to make 
preparation for the reception of others; we are 
therefore bound to the government's agent. He 
has rented a farm, and put us on it, and we must 
cultivate it for our support, and for the support of 
these Africans; and pay as much of the rent as we 
can. And as this obligation will last until lands 
are purchased by the agents of the Colonization 
Society, I am greatly afraid it will not end soon; 
and until it does end, our mission labors will be 
very {ew. Jesus Christ our Saviour when he came 
on his mission into this world, was often found 



30 BIOGRAPHY OP 

with a broad axe in his hand; and I believe a good 
many corn field missionaries would be a great 
blessing to this country, that is if they were not 
confined to the field by the law and by necessity. 
We are bound by both. I converse very freely 
with you on this subject, because with me, it is a 
very important one, and because of the interest 
which the board has taken in this mission. Africa 
suffers for gospel truth, and she will suffer, until 
missionaries can be sent, and settled in different 
parts of her continent. 

"I have not been able to write any information 
relative to the state of the country, which can be 
of much use to the board. I intend taking a small 
excursion in the country, but cannot promise when 
that will be, as the rains will set in soon, my wife 
is sick, and we are desirous to get a small crop on 
the way, as early as possible. These things 1 pre- 
sume will be a sufficient preventive to my leaving 
home for six months to come. I however have 
the promise of some friends to take me down as 
far as the Bagroo, as soon as I am ready to go. 
I believe that just over on the Bullom side is a 
beautiful field for miss onary labors, among the 
Mandingoes, and that labors might be extended 
at once to advantage, because there is a regular 



LOTT CARY. 31 

trade carried on with the natives of that country, 
and the people of this place. They have not only 
acquired some knowledge of the English language, 
but some of their habits also: and as they are 
dependant on this place for trade, any traveller or 
any settler among them, would be perfectly safe, 
so long as they fear that the injuring of the mis- 
sionary or settler would have a tendency to inter- 
rupt their trade with this place. A missionary, 
therefore, settled among them, would have every 
means in his hands, and would have a right, under 
the blessing of God, to expect a rapid spread of 
gospel truth. It is strange that a subject of so 
much importance, and which appears to be so 
practicable, should be so much neglected. If you 
intend doing any thing for Africa you must not 
wait for the Colonization Society, nor for govern- 
ment, for neither of these are in search of mis- 
sionary ground, but of colonizing grounds; if it 
should not sow missionary seeds, you cannot ex- 
pect a missionary crop. And, moreover, all of us 
who are connected with the agents, who are under 
public instructions, must be conformed to their 
laws whether they militate against missionary 
operations or not. 

"1 have been wonderfully blessed, as to my 



32 BIOGRAPHY OF 

health: for I have not had a day's sickness since 
I left America. But my wife left America sick; 
she has not had her health since, and it is very 
doubtful with me, how her sickness will terminate^ 
My children are all very well. Please, sir, to 
make my respects to the board. 

"Before we left the United States, we formed 
ourselves into a church, consisting of seven mem- 
bers. We adopted the constitution of the San- 
son! street church. This little body, small as it 
is, has appointed Lord's day, 22d, to commune."" 

This letter was written a short time subsequent 
to his arrival on the coast of Africa. At this pe- 
riod, the American Colonization Society possessed 
no territory; and although their agents, who sailed 
in the Nautilus, were authorised to purchase the 
most eligible site, and commence a settlement 
immediately, they were unsuccessful until the 
close of the year 1821. A permanent location 
as at length made at Cape Montserado, some time 
in the year 1822. During these intervening 
months, Lott Cary, with the other colonists, re- 
mained at Sierra Leone. Here he was subjected 
to many severe trials. Before he left America, 
he had expended all his property in the outfit. 
The Baptist Board of Missions, beside one hundred 



LOTT CARY. 33 

dollars for books, appropriated two hundred dol- 
lars for the use of Collin Teage and himself. This 
sum was soon exhausted during the severe sick- 
ness and trials they experienced. Such were his 
necessities while at Sierra Leone, that he was 
compelled to learn the coopering business, and 
make tubs, buckets, &c. which he sold at Free- 
town, for the support of his family. But, as a min- 
ister of Jesus Christ, he was not inactive. He 
was not only useful among the colonists, but suc- 
ceeded in establishing a mission among the Man- 
dingoes, a tribe to which he alludes in the fore- 
going letter. Here it is hoped some good was 
done. The severest affliction through which he 
was brought, during his stay at the English settle- 
ment, was the illness and death of his wife. Her 
health was delicate when they left America, and 
she continued to decline, until she was removed to 
a better world. She died at Fourah bay. Con- 
cerning her last moments, he writes in the follow- 
ing most affecting strain: 

"During her illness, (as I had concluded that un- 
less there was a very great change, she would die,) 
I endeavored to keep her mind up, by frequent con- 
versation on divine things. I often questioned 
her about the state of her mind; but I always 
4 



34 BIOGRAPHY OF 

found her steadfast on the rock Christ. The day 
before she died, (in the afternoon,) she called me 
to her bed side, and said that she should die; I 
said to her, it is not hard work for the child of 
God to die, when Jesus Christ, his Son, is with 
him. I asked her respecting the state of her 
mind, or where was her confidence; she calmly 
replied, it is in Jesus Christ, and then repeated, 
"I am not afraid to trust my Master; I am not 
afraid to die.'' I observed to her, that the few 
years we had been together, had been spent in love 
and peace, and now I am about to sustain the 
greatest loss I can sustain in this world, except 
my own soul; but yet do not be unhappy on my 
account: for, seeing the afflictions which you have 
already gone through, and believing you will be 
freed from them all— I freely give you up into 
the hands of your best beloved. And, by this time, 
we both were in a flood of tears, which shortened 
our conversation. She left the world with uncom- 
mon serenity. A few minutes before she died, 
she lay very much composed, and my three chil- 
dren were in the room, as usual: she requested 
them to retire, and shut the door, which they did; 
but my oldest daughter, Fanny, being very anxious 
to know the meaning of it, returned in a few min- 



LOTT CARY. 35 

utes, and found her without a struggle or a groan, 
breathing her last in the arms of death, and fell 
peaceably asleep in the arms of Jesus — before our 
daughter could get information to any of the peo- 
ple." 

Though he had the most abundant reason to 
believe that she slept in Jesus, and was happily 
removed from a world of vexation and sin, to 
brighter and holier climes; still, the separation 
was most painfully felt. In a land of strangers, 
with a family of children growing up around him, 
he seemed indeed to be bereft of earthly supports 
and consolations. Had he not been divinely sus- 
tained, he must have sunk beneath the pressure of 
calamities so numerous and heavy. The Lord, how- 
ever, was his portion, and he could rejoice in him. 

When a purchase had been made at Cape Mont- 
serado, some time during ihe year 1822, he re- 
moved thither with his family, and became one 
of the most spirited and active members of that 
little community. He was, in the earliest organ- 
ization of the colony, appointed health officer and 
government inspector. Here a new field of action 
was opened, and still heavier trials awaited him. 
In assisting to form the colony at the Cape, he 
found it in a most exposed condition, with tribes 



OO BIOGRAPHY OF 

of hostile savages, seeking the earliest opportunity 
to exterminate the settlers. He now saw it ne- 
cessary to throw in the whole weight of his influ- 
ence and example, to sustain the infant colony. 
To him, more than any other man, is to be attri- 
buted its salvation. Fear seems not for a moment 
to have entered his bosom, nor did he utter a 
single sentiment expressive of desire to return. 
On the contrary, his spirits were buoyant with a 
hope amounting almost to assurance, that God 
would prosper the work of his hands. At all 
times he was cheerful, and happy. Even amid the 
most perilous season in the history of the colony, 
he thus writes to a friend in America, describing 
Cape Montserado: "It is a delightful spot, and 
has the best water, I believe, to be found on all 
the coast of Africa. Here I expect to spend my 
days. You will be pleased to let as many of the 
brethren see this, as you can. 

"My health has been very good, until some 
time in last April. I was taken the second day 
of the palaver with the fever, which continued 
very severe for about five days, but I have not 
lost a day's work since that time. If you think 
of coming out, you need not fear, for you will 
find as fine a spot as ever your eyes beheld; the 



LOTT CARY. 37 

best for fish that I ever saw. It is certainly a 
beautiful place. You can see as far as the organ 
of vision will allow, over the face of the country, 
on one side, and on the other, to the sea. 

"My love to all the brethren and friends, and 
tell them to remember me at all times in their 
prayers, and pardon me for not writing to them 
personally, for I have not time; our work is al- 
most like building the walls of Jerusalem. We 
have to carry our axes all day, and our muskets 
all night, I can write no more at present, only 
wishing that your souls may prosper in the Lord. 
My love to all. I have never turned my face 
towards America as yet. Farewell, the Lord 
protect you and yours. '' 

In giving a short sketch of his life, the general 
agent of the American Colonization Society fur- 
nishes a tribute of praise to his conduct on this 
trying occasion, which was, no doubt, richly mer- 
ited. He says, "On his arrival in Africa, he saw 
before him a wide and interesting field, demand- 
ing various and energetic talents, and the most 
devoted piety. His intellectual ability, firmness 
of purpose, unbending integrity, correct judg- 
ment, and disinterested benevolence, soon placed 
him in a conspicuous station, and gave him wide 



38 BIOGRAPHY OF 

and commanding influence. Though naturally dif- 
fident and retiring, his worth was too evident, to 
allow of his continuance in obscurity. It is well 
known that great difficulties were encountered in 
founding a settlement at Cape Montserado. So 
appalling were the circumstances of the first set- 
tlers, that soon after they had taken possession of 
the Cape, it was proposed that they should remove 
to Sierra Leone. The resolution of Mr. Cary 
was not to be shaken; he determined to stay, 
and his decision had great effect in persuading 
others to imitate his example. During the war 
with the native tribes, in November and Decem- 
ber, 1822, he proved to be one of the bravest of 
men, and lent his well directed, and vigorous sup- 
port to the measures of Mr. Ashmun, during that 
memorable defence of the colony. It was to him 
that Mr. Ashmun was principally indebted for as- 
sistance in rallying the broken forces of the col- 
ony, at a moment when fifteen hundred of the 
exasperated natives were rushing on to extermi- 
nate the settlement. In one of his letters he 
compares the little exposed company on Cape 
Montserado at that time, to the Jews, who. in re- 
building their city, 'grasped a weapon in one hand, 
while they labored with the other;' but adds, em- 



LOTT CARY. 39 

phatically, 'there never has been an hour, or a 
minute, no, not even when the balls were flying 
around my head, when I could wish myself again 
in America.' '' 

At this early period of the colony, the emigrants 
were peculiarly exposed; the want of adequate 
medical attentions, aud the scantiness of their 
supplies, subjected them to severe and complicat- 
ed sufferings. To relieve, if possible, these suffer- 
ings, Mr. Cary availed himself of all information 
in his power, concerning the diseases of the cli- 
mate, made liberal sacrifices of his property to 
assist the poor and distressed, and devoted his 
time almost exclusively to the destitute, the sick, 
and the afflicted. 

It becomes the duty of the biographer to men- 
tion a circumstance which is here stated in the 
language of the individual referred to above: — 
"He was one of those who appeared at that time 
to have lost confidence in the Society, and who 
ventured to throw off those restraints of authority, 
which, though severe, were deemed absolutely 
necessary for the general safety of the settlers. 
In the ninth chapter of the memoir of Mr, Ash- 
mun, we have given some account of the origin 
and progress of that spirit of insubordination, 



40 BIOGRAPHY OP 

which finally resulted in an abduction, by a few 
individuals, of a portion of the public stores, in 
open violation of the laws. Mr. Gary had no small 
influence and share in this seditious proceeding. 
In communicating the account of this disturbance 
to the board, Mr. Ashmun remarks, 'The services 
rendered by Lott Cary in the colony, who has, 
with very few (and those recent) exceptions done 
honor to the selection of the Baptist Missionary 
Society, under whose auspices he was sent out to 
Africa, entitle his agency in this affair, to the most 
indulgent construction it will bear. The hand 
which records the lawless transaction, would long 
since have been cold in the grave, had it not been 
for the unwearied and painful attentions of this 
individual, rendered at all hours, of every descrip- 
tion, and continued for several months.' " 

The mutinous proceedings to which allusion 
is here made, were the result of peculiarly criti- 
cal circumstances. He was compelled, to some 
extent, to act the part of a mediator between the 
exasperated colonists, who considered themselves 
injured, and Mr. Ashmun, the governor. While, 
for the moment, he might seem to act injudicious- 
ly, he possessed too much noble and generous 
feeling to be guilty of a dishonorable act. More- 



LOTT CAT?Y. 41 

over, the accounts of these transactions, as far as 
we have seen them, have come from only one of 
the parties concerned. We have heard from a 
source to be relied on, that Mr. Cary justified, 
generally, the course he had pursued — and while 
we cherish the highest regard for the memory of 
the excellent Ashmun, as well as for Mr. Gur- 
ley, his biographer, we feel assured that if Mr. 
Cary's statement could now be obtained, it would 
very much vary the complexion of the whole 
affair. During Mr. Gary's residence in Rich- 
mond, his character, among the most respectable 
merchants of the city, was entirely above suspi- 
cion. And he had given ample proof, as Mr. 
Ashmun declared, that he cherished the most ar- 
dent devotion to the colony, and would sooner 
have sacrificed life itself than jeopardized its in- 
terests. As soon as Mr. Ashmun had issued a 
circular, addressed to the colonists, Lott Cary 
came forward and gave his pledge to aid in sus- 
taining the authority of the agent and the majes- 
ty of the laws. 

Notwithstanding the unsettled state of the col- 
ony, and the active part he was compelled to 
take in its general interests, he never forgot the 
appropriate duties of the minister and mission- 



42 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ary. He labored to promote the spiritual interest 
of the church at Monrovia, and to give instruc- 
tion in the rudiments of the gospel to the re-cap- 
tured Africans who had been taken from the slave 
ships, and placed for protection in the colony. 
The following letter, written about this time to 
Mr. Wm. Crane, (who, from the commencement 
of his ministry, had been his principal adviser 
and friend,) will indicate his spirit, and the de- 
gree of success which had thus far followed his 
labors. 

"Monrovia, August 16th, 1823. 
"Dear brother, 

1 have just time to let you know that I am 
well, by the Cyane, as she leaves here this even- 
ing. 1 wrote to you by the Fidelity. Our Sun- 
day school, and missionary school, both go on 
and prosper: although our number is not as great 
as it has been. 

"I have made a visit up to Grand Cape Mount; 
and } while there, lost no time in endeavoring to 
determine what was the prospect of getting a 
school on the way among them. They are very 
desirous that 1 shall establish a school there. I 






LOTT CARY. 43 

think, if the board* will support a school one 
year, after that time it may be conducted with 
very little expense: and all I am waiting for is 
books, and the opinion of the board on the sub- 
ject. Please lose no time in getting books sent 
on for this object, for that is the largest field for 
labor on this part of the coast. Any man, whose 
heart is set fully on the work, may find a rich 
field there. There is a young man here that 
promises well; him I expect to send up after I get 
it established. 

Our little church has been wonderfully blessed 
of late. I baptized two yesterday; one the Sun- 
day before; and three the Sunday before that. 

If the Board of Missions ever intend to send a 
missionary to Africa, now is the time, and Grand 
Cape Mount is the place. I have the king's letter; 
and he has my promise for a teacher. He knows 
that I look to you to enable me to perform it. 
May the Lord protect us both. I hope to come 
to your next annual meeting. Yours, 

Lott Cary." 

There are no materials on hand furnishing in- 
formation concerning the efforts of Elder Cary 

*He alludes here to the Board of the Richmond Afri- 
can Baptist Missionary Society, of which Mr. C. was 
Cor. Sec'y. 



44 BIOGRAPHY OF 

in the mission field during the year 1824. But 
the providence of God seems to have opened for 
him, about this time, a new sphere of usefulness. 
He became the physician of the colony. Although 
he had previously administered to the sick in 
many instances, yet now he became their only de- 
pendance. On the 13th of Feb. 1824, the ship 
Cyrus arrived from the United States with one 
hundred and five emigrants, in good health. But, 
within four weeks, all were smitten with disease. 
"Astonishing," says Mr. Ashmun, "that in this 
atmosphere there should exist causes, so universal 
in their operation, as, amongst all the varieties of 
age, sex, and habit, not to leave one in the whole 
number without disease, and that in less than four 
weeks." It was said, in this deplorable state of 
things, that the only individual who could act the 
part of a physician, was Lott Cary, whose skill 
resulted entirely from his good sense, observation, 
and experience. He had gained much knowledge 
of the human frame and of medicine, from scien- 
tific practitioners, who had, at various times, vis- 
ited the colony. His attentions were rendered 
successful in the restoration of almost the whole 
number. 

During this summer, the agent of the Ameri- 



LOTT CARY. 45 

can Colonization Society, made a visit to Liberia, 
and, as he says, "enjoyed, during the few days he 
remained there, frequent interviews with Mr. Ca- 
ry. He appeared to welcome the return of Mr. 
Ashmun at that time. He entered most cordially 
into the views of the agents in regard to the es- 
tablishment of a new form of government. He 
readily comprehended the principles upon which 
it was organized, and entirely approved of them. 
Seldom has the writer met with an individual of 
a more active or reflecting mind. He appeared 
to realize the greatness of the work in which he 
had engaged, and to be animated by a noble 
spirit of zeal and resolution in the cause of his 
afflicted and perishing brethren. His services as 
physician were invaluable, and were then, and for 
a long time afterwards, rendered without hope of 
reward.'' 

The following letters, addressed to Mr. William 
Crane, are highly interesting. They exhibit the 
spirit of their author, in connection with his mis- 
sionary labors. His heart did not become secu- 
larized by the numerous and pressing worldly du- 
ties devolving on him in his endeavors to sustain 
the colony and to promote its prosperity. The 
cause of his divine Master, and the eternal welfare 
5 



46 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of his fellow men, were at all times objects of 
paramount importance. 

"Monrovia, [Africa,) Jan. \6th, 1825. 

"Dear brother, 

I am glad that an opportunity is afforded to 
hand you a few lines, which leave me and mine 
in good health; and, 1 hope, may find you enjoy- 
ing the blessings of a favorable Providence. I 
have not much (but still something, I think) worth 
communicating. Since I wrote you last, the 
Lord has in mercy visited the settlement, and I 
have had the happiness to baptize nine hopeful 
converts; besides, a number have joined the 
Methodists. The natives are more and more 
friendly; their confidencebegins to awaken. They 
see that it is our wish to do them good, and hos- 
tilities have ceased with them. I have daily ap- 
plications to receive their children, and have ven- 
tured to take three small boys; to find clothes, 
and pay for their attendance at the day school — 
two from Grand Cape Mount, and one from Little 
Bassa; the two former are very promising, but the 
other is slow to learn, yet a fine boy. Two of 
them, I was obliged to send home, ten days ago, 



LOTT CARY. 47 

in consequence of sores, which they had; but they 
will return as soon as they are cured; and, in 
order to establish my confidence in their return- 
ing, they refused to take their clothes with them. 
Our Sunday school still goes on, with some hopes 
that the Lord will ultimately bless it to the good 
of numbers of the untutored tribes. The natives 
attend our Lord's day worship, quite regularly. 
We have commenced bringing out our timbers 
for the building of our meeting house, and have 
got all the large timbers on the ground, but we 
shall want boards, shingles, nails, window glass, 
&c. of which you will please to collect what you 
can, and send out. Please make my respects to 
the board, and accept of the same for yourself 
and family. 

"1 am yours, very dearly, 

Lott Cary." 



"Monrovia, (Liberia,) Africa, April Uh, 1825. 

"Very dear brother, 

T have a short, but very interesting communi- 
caton to make to you. The 13tb of March, be- 
ing the Lord's day, was blessed to us as a day of 
good news from a far country. [It was on this 



48 BIOGRAPHY OF 

day that the Hunter arrived, with sixty colonists 
from America.] Early in the morning, the church 
met to hear the relation of a poor heathen, who 
was led to believe that God, for Christ's sake, had 
pardoned his sins. His name is John — he came 
all the way from Grand Cape Mount, about eighty 
miles, down to Cape Messurado, to be baptized, 
having heard that here was a people who be- 
lieved in Christ, and practised baptism. He stated 
that about three years ago, he had spent three or 
four months in Sierra Leone, being sent there by 
his father, to learn English. During his contin- 
uance there, he got about three months' school- 
ing; and it was so ordered, that he made an op- 
portunity to go to church, and it pleased the Lord 
to direct some word from the mouth of old Hector 
Peters, to his idolatrous heart. The following is 
his own relation, without being asked any ques- 
tions: 'When me bin Sa'Lone — me see all man 
go to church house — me go too — me be very bad 
man too. Suppose a man can cus (curse) me — 
me can cus 'im too — suppose a man can fight 
me — me can fight 'im too. Well, me go to church 
house — the man speak, and one word catch my 
heart, (at the same time laying his hand on his 
breast) — I go to my home — my heart be very 



LOTT CAF.Y. 49 

heavy, and trouble me too — night time come, me 
fear me can't go to my bed for sleep, my heart 
trouble me so — something tell me, go, pray to 
God; me fall down to pray: no, my heart be too 
bad, I can't pray — I think so — I go die now — 
suppose I die — I go to hell — me be very bad 
man — pass all, pass all turror (other) man — God 
be angry with me — soon I die — suppose man cus 
me this time — me can't cus 'im no more — sup- 
pose man fight me — me can't fight 'im no more — 
all the time my heart trouble me — all day, all 
night — me can't sleep — by and by my heart grow 
too big, and heavy — think to night me die — my 
heart so big — me fall down this time — now me 
can pray — me say, Lord, have massy — then light 
eome in my heart — make me glad — make me 
light — make me love the Son of God — make me 
love every body.' 

"This is his own relation, without being asked 
any questions, and I have no time now, to give 
you either the questions or answers. He ap- 
peared to be strong in the faith of the Son of God. 
He received his impressions about three years 
ago, at Sierra Leone — and while there, he got 
the knowledge of his letters — after about three 
months advantage of schooling, his relations called 

i* 



50 BIOGRAPHY OF 

him from Sierra Leone to Grand Cape Mount 
where he now lives. He however took along with 
him a spelling book, and he continued praying, 
and trying to spell — and, providentially, one of 
the men belonging to our settlement, went on a 
trip up there in a boat, the boat got lost, and he 
himself carried ashore by the waves, and fell into 
the hands of this native man, John — who treated 
him with a great deal of hospitality; and all he 
charged or asked him for, was a Testament, which 
he fortunately had, and gave him. It would 
seem, in the course of events, as if he was sent 
there on purpose to carry the word of God, to 
this man. Since that time, which has been about 
a year ago, he learnt to read the bible without 
any teacher, except the Spirit of God. He has 
learnt to read middling correctly, and he has read 
and meditated on the different subjects of religion, 
until he found it was his duty to be baptized, 
when he came down to our place for that pur- 
pose, and gave the relation which I have given 
you above. I must now say, what was I, that I 
could withstand God? But I thought, in order 
for a more public notice of his baptism, it was 
best to postpone it to the next Lord's day, which 
was the 20th, and was a day which should ever 



LOTT CA.RY. 51 

be remembered at Cape Messurado. In the morn- 
ing, the native Sunday school met, and your valua- 
ble present of clothes, books, &c. were opened 
and laid before the children, with tears of grati- 
tude to God, and thanks to you. Our teachers 
and assistants set to, and in a few minutes the 
face and appearance of our school was changed — 
having eighteen boys neatly dressed, and wearing 
every appearance of civilized and improved child- 
ren. When we turned out our school, and marched 
them through our streets, and returned to church, 
it appeared to me as if the restoration and salva- 
tion of this ruined and degraded people had com- 
menced. After preaching, in the morning, I bap- 
tized the native man John; and after preaching 
in the afternoon, we had the honor to break 
bread in the house of God, with our newly ar- 
rived brethren from America, and our newly bap- 
tized brother. I need not tell you, for you know 
it was a day of joy and gladness. The church 
made up a contribution, and neatly dressed our 
heathen brother John, gave him an extra suit of 
clothes, gave him fourteen bars, (a bar is equal 
to seventy-five cents,) and he went on his way 
rejoicing. We also gave him three bibles, and 
two hymn books. 



52 BIOGRAPHY OP 

Dear brother — tell the board [the board of the 
Richmond African Missionary Society; of which, 
when it was established in 1814, and till he went 
to Africa, he was a most prominent member] to 
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his 
might: for the work is going on here and prospers " 
in his hands; that the Sunday school promises a 
great and everlasting blessing to Africa; and on 
the next Lord's day there will be a discourse on 
the subject of missions, with a view to get on foot, 
if possible, a regular school for the instruction of 
native children. Tell them they have my grateful 
acknowledgments for the liberal appropriations 
which they have made, which have been well 
and duly applied by brother J. Lewis. 1 send on 
to you several curiosities for the benefit of the 
board of the Richmond African Baptist Mission 
Society. The health of the settlement is much 
as common. Improvements would have been very 
great, provided the inhabitants could have pro- 
cured nails, lumber, &c. Our meeting house, 
indeed, is obliged to remain entirely still, for the 
want of these things. 

"Very respectfully, yours, 

Lott Cary." 



LOTT CARY. 



LETTER TO THE BOARD. 



53 



"Monrovia, (Liberia,) Africa, June 15th, 1825. 
"Very dear patrons, 

I know that it will be a source of much grati- 
fication to you to hear, that on the 18th day of 
April, 1825, we established a missionary school 
for native children. We began with 21, and have 
increased since up to the number of 32; and as ] 
knew it to be the great object which the society 
had in view, I felt that there was no risk in fur- 
nishing them with a suit of clothes, each. Upon 
the credit of the board, I purchased 165 yards 
of domestic, of brother J. Lewis, which the 
board will please to pay to his order. We teach 
from eleven in the morning, until two in the 
afternoon, that being as much time as I can spare 
at present. You will see from the list, that Grand 
Cape Mount will soon be a field for missionary 
labor, as that nation is most anxious for improve- 
ment. I wrote to the king, some time in May, 
to send me five or six girls to school; and have 
since received an answer, informing me that their 
mothers, and all, were in the Grigory bush, and 
their girls with them, of course, and when they 
returned T should have them. According to their 



54 BIOGRAPHY OF 

custom, they have to remain six months. I intend 
writing to him again on the subject, and as soon 
as in the judgment of the board, they can support 
such an establishment, to get up a school there. 
To furnish clothes and books, for the children, 
and support a teacher, is what the board would 
have to do. I think that after one or two years, 
such an establishment would be of no expense to 
the board; but that they would very gladly sup- 
port a school themselves. I wish the board 
would deliberate on the subject, and write by the 
first opportunity, as I expect to go up the next 
dry season; and I probably might succeed in get- 
ting on the way such a school; and appoint some 
one of our young men to take charge of it. The 
assortment of books, which have been hitherto 
sent out, has not been adapted to the nature of 
our infant schools, as we found but very few of 
them that contained the first principles. You 
will please to improve our supply of school books, 
such as the American, or Webster's spelling book. 
I have some hope of meeting you in your next 
■annual meeting, if the Lord will. We are told 
to expect great things, and attempt great things. 
You must know, that it is a source of much con- 
solation to me, to hear the word of God read by 



LOTT CARY. 55 

those native sons of Ham, who a few months ago 
were howling in the devil's bush. May the Lord 
direct and protect you in all your movements. — ■ 
Amen. 

"Yours, &c. 

Lott Cary." 



LETTER TO MR. CRANE. 

"Monrovia, (Liberia.?) Africa, June 15, 1825. 
"Dear sir, 

The arrival of the Fidelity, gives me an op- 
portunity to hand you a few lines, which, I hope, 
may find you in good health. Nothing very inter- 
esting has taken place since I wrote you last, only 
that among the last emigrants that came out, 
there has been some considerable sickness and 
death, the precise account I cannot give at this 
time. I do believe, that the sickness on new 
comers hitherto has been greatly increased in 
consequence of the very unfavorable season of 
the year in which they leave America. You 
know that they have long been accustomed to 
have their system prepared for the summer heat; 
but to leave in the winter, and be suddenly in- 
troduced into a warm climate, it is natural to con- 
clude that they will be sooner attacked, and that 



56 BIOGRAPHY OP 

it will generally terminate more seriously. Send 
them out in the fall, and I think that the sick- 
ness will be very light, and, in some constitu- 
tions, altogether avoided. Please to use your in- 
fluence to have a physician sent out, as 1 must, of 
necessity, quit the practice of medicine. It oc- 
casions a greater consumption of time than I can 
possibly afford. We begin now to get on with our 
farms and buildings middling well. 1 have a pro- 
mising little crop of rice and cassada, and have 
planted about 180 coffee trees this week a part of 
which, I expect, will produce the next season, as 
they are now in bloom. I think, sir, that in a 
very few years, we shall send you coffee of a 
better quality than you have ever seen brought 
into your market. We find that the trees, of two 
species, abound in great quantities on the capes, 
both of the large and small green coffee, of which 
I will send you a specimen by the first opportu- 
nity. The Sunday school goes on and prospers, 
we have now on the list forty, but only about 
thirty-three attend regularly, two of them can 
read in the New Testament quite encouragingly, 
George and John, from Grand Cape Mount. In 
addition to that, I have got under way a regular 
day school. We began with twenty-one, and now 



LOTT GARY. 57 

have on our Hst thirty-two. This is called the 
MissionarySchool, because established in the name 
of the African Missionary Society. My respects 
to all the brethren and friends. 

"Yours, with respect, 

Lott Cary." 



In the fall of 1825, Elder Cary was requested 
by the board of the American Colonization So- 
ciety, to visit the United States. It was thought 
that he was well qualified to give such facts as 
would strengthen the hands of those who had been 
laboring to sustain the colony, and beside, that 
his influence among the free colored population of 
this country would be favorable to their migration 
to the land of their fathers. On his intelligence 
and judgment, as a representative from the col- 
ony, the board placed much reliance. Definite 
arrangements were made for his departure in the 
Indian Chief, April, 1S26. From Mr. Ashmun, 
governor of the colony, were received the warmest 
testimonials of moral character and usefulness. 
The following is an extract from a letter ad- 
dressed to the board of the Colonization Society. 

"The Rev. Lott Cary, returning by the 'Indian 
Chief,' has, in my opinion, some claims on the 
6 



58 BIOGRAPHY OF 

justice of the society, or government of the U» 
States, or both, which merit consideration. These 
claims arise out of a long and faithful course of 
medical services, rendered to this colony (the 
only such services deserving much consideration, 
if we except those of Dr. Ayres, and Dr. Peaco) 
since the commencement of the settlement in 
1820. 

"Mr. Cary, it is well known, came to this 
country in the capacity of a missionary, from a 
society in Richmond, and has ever since, I be- 
lieve, been in the receipt of a considerable salary 
from the society, appropriated for the express 
and sole intention of putting him in a situation to 
devote his time and labors to the work of the 
sacred ministry. 

"It is, perhaps, known to the board, that Mr. 
Cary has declined serving in any civil office, in- 
compatible with a faithful discharge of his sacred 
functions; and it may be added, that, although 
one of the most diligent and active of men, he 
has never had the command of leisure, or strength, 
to engage in any missionary duties, besides the 
weekly and occasional services of the congrega- 
tion. More than one half of his time has been 
given up to the care of our sick, from the day I 



LOTT CARY. 5& 

landed in Africa to the very moment of stating 
the fact. He has personally aided, in every way 
that fidelity and benevolence could dictate, in all 
the attentions which all our sick have in so long 
a period received. His want of science, acquired 
by the regular study of medicine, he has gone a 
long way towards supplying by an unwearied dili- 
gence, which few regular physicians think it 
necessary, and fewer superficial practitioners, 
have the motives for exercising. 

"Several times have these disinterested labors 
reduced him to the verge of the grave. The pre- 
sence of other physicians has, instead of affording 
relief, only redoubled the intensity of his labors, 
by changing the ordinary routine of his attentions 
to the sick, with the exhibitions of their own 
prescriptions. 

"Mr. Gary has hitherto received no compensa- 
tion, either from the society or the government, 
for these services. I need not add, that it has not 
been in his power to support himself and family 
by any use he could make of the remnants of his 
time, left him after discharging the amount of 
duty already described. The missionary board 
of Richmond have fed, clothed, and supplied the 
other wants of himself and family, while devoting 



60 BIOGRAPHY OP 

his strength and time to your sick colonists, and 
agents in this country. Justice seems to demand 
that he should be placed in a situation as an honest 
man, to refund the whole or a part of the sum 
thus engrossed, not to say misapplied, by the 
missionary board. 

"I beg leave also to state, that on the 15th of 
Feb. 1826, I came into an agreement with Mr. 
Cary, to allow him a reasonable compensation for 
his medical services, devoted to the then sicken- 
ing company of Boston emigrants. His time 
from the date of that agreement to the present 
hour, has been incessantly occupied in attending 
upon the sick.'' 

To visit America, was an object very near to 
the heart of Cary. He longed to confer in person 
with the friends of the mission in Richmond and 
other places, and to wake up, by personal repre- 
sentations and appeals, the dormant energies of 
many of his colored brethren who he believed pos- 
sessed talents to labor efficiently in Africa as 
teachers and preachers. It was not his desire to 
remain, himself, in this country. No earthly 
consideration would have successfully tempted 
him to abandon his chosen and loved employments 
in Africa. To her he had given himself and all 



LOTT CARY. 61 

he had, and he could not retrace his steps. The 
wish he cherished once more to see this country, 
and the wish of the colonization board to see him 
were not gratified. His attentions as physician 
could not be dispensed with, and he cheerfully 
yielded to the claims of duty. By the vessel in 
which he expected to sail he wrote the following 
letters to friends in Virginia. 

"Monrovia, April 24, 1826. 
"Dear brother, 

Your letters and all the articles you men- 
tioned, arrived safe, and were very thankfully re- 
ceived. I expected, until Friday last, that the re- 
turn of the ship would have enabled me to present 
personal thanks to you; but the agent was of opin- 
ion that I had better defer it a little longer. I 
am of the same opinion, as the last emigrants 
have not as yet got entirely over the fever, and 
my services cannot be dispensed with without 
very great risk; but I hope that, if not before, I 
shall see you next spring, if the Lord permit. 

We dedicated our meeting-house last October; 
it was four weeks from the time we raised it to 
the time it was dedicated. It is quite a com- 
fortable house, thirty by twenty feet, and ceiled 



62 BIOGRAPHY OF 

inside nearly up to the plates, with a decent pul- 
pit, and seats. I feel very grateful to you for 
your services, and to the brethren and friends for 
their liberal contributions. We may say, that 
'hitherto the Lord has helped us,' therefore we 
have gone on middling well. We have no par- 
ticular revival at present, but still we labor in 
hope that the Lord will, in answer to prayer, yet 
favor Zion. Our native schools still go on under 
hopeful circumstances. I think the slave trade 
is nearly done in our neighborhood. The agent, 
with our forces, has released upwards of one hun- 
dred and eighty from chains, since the first of 
October, which has added greatly to our strength. 
If the colored people of Virginia do not think 
proper to come out, the Lord will bring help to 
the colony from some other quarter, for these re- 
captives are ready to fight as hard for the pro- 
tection of the colony, as any of the rest of the 
inhabitants. I mention these circumstances that 
you may look through them to the time foretold in 
jnophecy;i.e. Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands 
unto God. We have very few meetings but that 
some of the native born sons of Ham are present, 
and they begin to learn to read and sing the praises 
of God. I should think that among your large 



LOTT CARY. 63 

population of colored people, if the love of them- 
selves did not bring them out, the love of God 
would, for here is a wide and extensive mission- 
ary field. 

"My respects to all. Please let the colored 
brethren in your church hear this letter read. 
Farewell. 

"Very respectfully, yours, 

In the bond of Christian affection. 

Lott Cary.'' 

"Monrovia, April 22, 1826. 
"Dear brother, 

I received your letter of the 29th Jan. 1826, 
and read its contents with much interest. I ex- 
pected, until yesterday, that the return of the ship 
Indian Chief would enable me to converse with 
you face to face, but it is thought best for the 
good of the settlement, that I should not leave at 
present, as the one hundred and fifty persons 
brought over by Dr. Peaco have not got over the 
fever yet, but it has been very favorable with them. 
We have lost only three, the Rev. Mr. Moses 
Freeman from Baltimore, and two young children; 
the rest of that expedition are getting on well. 



64 BIOGRAPHY OP 

The expedition from Boston suffered very much, 
the loss was greater in proportion than common, 
and among the rest we have to lament the loss 
of Mr. Charles L. Force, the printer. We feel 
truly grateful to the great preserver of the lives 
of his people, that in answer to prayer, he has 
spared the useful life of brother Holton. His case 
was an alarming one; but his recovery has been 
rapid. He has preached for us once since his 
recovery, and perhaps will to-morrow. He still 
resides with me, and perhaps will, until the agent 
completes a room for him." 

Thus it would appear that Lott Cary's medical 
services were indispensable to the welfare of the 
colony, since no other man possessed such prac- 
tical knowledge of the diseases of the climate, 
and the precise remedies adapted to their removal. 
At one time, during the year 1825, when Mr. 
Ashmun was reduced to the lowest extremity by 
sudden illness, he observes: "The prescriptions 
of our excellent and experienced assistant phy- 
sician, the Rev. Lott Cary, under the blessing 
of divine Providence, so far succeeded as to af- 
ford complete relief, only leaving me in a very 
emaciated and enfeebled state, about the end of 
the first week in July." 



LOTT CAEY. 65 

At the meeting of the board of the Baptist 
General Convention, which took place in 1825, 
a report on the African mission was adopted, of 
which, evidencing the confidence of the conven- 
tion, the following is a part: 

"The committee reported: 

"1. That intelligence has been received, through 
the medium of brother Crane, of Richmond, by- 
means of a letter from Lott Cary, that the pros- 
pects of success are truly animating. The na- 
tives, in Liberia, have laid aside the spirit of hos- 
tility; they have become convinced that the colo- 
nists are their sincere and disinterested friends. 
Lott Cary informs us, that he has baptized seve- 
ral of the Africans, and that preparations are 
making at Monrovia, for putting up a Baptist 
meeting house; for the completion of which, he 
humbly, but importunately, solicits the aid of the 
friends of the kingdom of the Redeemer in Amer- 
ica. 

"2. That your committee contemplate the la- 
bors and pious deportment of Lott Carey with en- 
tire satisfaction, and are happy to find that his 
virtuous deportment has secured to him the high 
approbation of the American Colonization Society. 

"3. That Lott Carey has not only endeavored 



66 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to render himself useful as a minister of the gos- 
pel of Christ, but has opened a small school, for 
the instruction of the children of the natives, and 
has received ample demonstrations of their res- 
pect and attachment." 

Such were the indefatigable labors of this man 
of God, and such the varied and important ser- 
vices he rendered to the colony, that it will not 
be a subject of surprise that he should occupy an 
elevated place in the esteem of this growing and 
prosperous community. In the selection of a 
suitable individual to fill the office of vice-agent, 
all eyes were directed to him. He w T as elected 
to that office in September, 1826. No man in 
the colony was so well qualified to sustain this po- 
sition, for he had not only been familiar with all 
the painful changes through which, from the first, 
it had passed — but he possessed, in an eminent 
degree, the intrepidity, foresight, prudence, and 
firmness, which were requisite to sustain the gov- 
ernment, and secure the welfare of the people. 
"In his good sense," says Mr. Gurley, "moral 
worth, public spirit, courage, resolution, and de- 
cision, the colonial agent had perfect confidence. 
He knew that in times of difficulty or danger, re- 
liance might be placed upon the energy and effi- 
ciency of Mr. Cary." 



LOTT CARY. 67 

The following letter, addressed to Mr. William 
Crane, will give pleasing evidence of his abiding 
spirituality of mind and his deep interest in the 
prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, amidst his 
pressing official duties in the colony. 

"Monrovia, Dec. 20, 1827. 

"Very dear brother, 

The United States sloop of war Ontario on 
her way to America, having arrived in our harbor 
to-day, and intending to proceed in a {ew days to 
the United States, 1 gladly embrace the opportu- 
nity to send you a few lines by her. As it has 
not been very long since I wrote you a full ac- 
count, I shall only at present give a short state- 
ment of the most important changes that have 
taken place since my last communication. One 
event, I am exceedingly glad to inform you of, is 
the establishment of the school at Big Town, 
Grand Cape Mount, on the 10th November. 
About thirty men were sent, at my request, by 
the king of Grand Cape Mount, for the purpose 
of removing brother Revey's books, &c. up, in or- 
der to commence the establishment of our long 
talked of school; and, through the blessing of a 
kind Providence 1 made the necessary arrange- 



68 BIOGRAPHY OP 

ments in time to set off on the 13th, and reached 
there on the 15th, after a rather fatiguing jour- 
ney. We were received very cordially. We could 
do nothing more that evening than shake the 
king's hand, and inform him that I came on bu- 
siness of importance, and wished an opportunity- 
might be afforded on the day following to have 
an interview with his majesty, which he granted 
very cheerfully. 1 accordingly waited on him 
next day, and stated the object of our mission; he 
would not give a decisive answer until he had con- 
vened his head men, which he did on Saturday 
the 17th; and after a few hours' palaver, it ter- 
minated in the unanimous consent of the king and 
all the head men, not only to permit the establish- 
ment of a school, but to protect it to the uttermost. 
I then requested them to select a suitable house 
for the school room, and promised, if they re- 
quired it, that I would pay rent for the house; but 
they said that they did not wish me to pay for 
a house. About five o'clock, P. M. they inform- 
ed me that they had made a selection of a house 
and wished me to go and examine it, which you 
may judge I did without delay — it is a room near, 
ly fifteen by thirty feet. I found that- notwith- 
standing it was then late in the afternoon we 



LOTT GARY. 69 

could make arrangements to have worship in it 
on the ensuing Lord's day, which we did, and I 
had the honor to address a very attentive audience 
twice, through brother John. After service I 
informed the congregation that I should need their 
assistance on the following day in preparing seats, 
&c, and they turned out like men, and performed 
more labor by eight o'clock than I expected to 
have accomplished in the whole day. We got 
seats prepared for about sixty children by four 
o'clock, and gave notice that as the school would 
be organized on the day following at nine o'clock, 
A. M., all persons wishing to have their children 
instructed were requested to come at that time 
and have them entered, and the number received 
was thirty-seven. I read and explained a short 
set of regulations which I had drawn up; and, 
as I had the king and his head men present, I got 
them to sign the articles of agreement in the pre- 
sence of the whole congregation. For twelve 
months I think that the school will, of course, be 
expensive. The present arrangement is: I agree 
to allow brother Revey twenty dollars per month, 
and find him provisions, washing, &c. If these 
expenses can be defrayed for one year, I think 
that they may be greatly reduced at the expira- 



70 BIOGRAPHY OF 

tion of that time. If you think it worth while, 
please to lay the subject before the board. After 
my return from Cape Mount I thought it best to 
relinquish our school operations here, from a con- 
viction that your little society could not support 
both: so we have to get on the best we can at 
present with our Sunday school alone. I do wish 
you could so manage it as to procure forty suits 
of clothing for boys and girls. Surely they can 
be raised upon some condition or other: they are 
bound in the school regulations to clothe their 
children as soon as practicable, but I am afraid 
that it will be too long, first, therefore do your best. 
Please to tell the board to be strong in the Lord 
and the power of his might, for it seems as if the 
great floodgate is about to be opened upon this part 
of Africa; one missionary arrived here in the 
Ontario and he informs me that there are four 
others following close after him. He is all the 
way from Germany or Switzerland — -of the Lu- 
theran denomination. I do not know what to say* 
but I must say, O American Christians! Look 
this way! come this way! and help, if you can- 
not come! Send help for the Lord's sake! help 
Africa's sons out of the devil's bush into the king- 
dom of God; the harvest is already white. The 



LOTT CAEY. 71 

heathen in our vicinity are so very anxious for the 
means of light that they will buy it — beg it — and, 
sooner than miss of it, they will steal it. To es- 
tablish this I will mention a circumstance which 
actually took place in removing our school estab- 
lishment up to C. M. I had upwards of forty na- 
tives to carry our baggage, and they carried 
something like two hundred and fifty bars; a part 
of them went on four days beforehand, and had 
every opportunity to commit depredations, but of 
all the goods that were sent and carried there, 
nothing was lost except fifteen spelling books, 
five of them we recovered again. I must say 
that T was almost pleased to find them stealing 
books, as they know that you have such a num- 
ber of them in America, and that they can, and 
no doubt will, be supplied upon better terms. I 
am very much in want of paper. I cannot say 
much about my intended visit to America, owing 
to the bad health of my wife, and my own not 
being very good; but if it please the Lord to im- 
prove her health I shall not regard my own. I 
send on to you a copy of the missionary's letter, 
and also a copy of the school grant, given by the 
people of Cape Mount. A few days before I 



72 BIOGRAPHY OF 

left for Cape Mount, I baptized the man George 
belonging there. 

Lott Cary." 

The next letters to brother Crane, were written 
a few months subsequently, in which he refers to 
the sickness of his companion. Mention of his 
third marriage has not been made in this me- 
moir, as the precise time when it occurred is not 
known. The following are extracts from these 
communications. 

"Monrovia, March 5, 1828. 

"I did not expect to have written to the board 
by this conveyance, because I expected to have 
visited them this spring; but inevitable circum- 
stances prevented me. The illness of my wife is 
a difficulty of all others that I cannot get over — 
she has the consumption of the inflammatory 
kind. I have used my skill to the uttermost 
with her, and availed myself of the advice of 
every physician that has visited us for several 
months past, but all has hitherto been in vain; I 
have twice attempted to carry her through a mer- 
curial course of medicine, but have in both in- 
stances been obliged to stop it — I now leave the 
event to Providence. 

I received from our teacher a written com- 



LOTT CARY. 73 

munication four days ago. He states that the pro- 
gress of our school is very much impeded at pres- 
ent, in consequence of the burial of old king 
Peter who has been dead about four years. This 
interruption I apprehend will continue six or eight 
weeks. I requested him to vacate his school and 
come down to our annual meeting on Easter Sun- 
day. He informed me that the Mandingoes are 
trying their influence against us to interrupt, and 
stop, if possible, the progress of our school; but 
the Lord I trust will not let them succeed. If 
you could find a good young man to join brother 
Revey it would be a very great accession; indeed 
it is a fine healthy place. I wrote you to try and 
procure a number of suits of clothes, of which I 
would again remind the board — they will please 
apply a part of their means to that object. I am 
very anxious to have the children who attend 
school distinguished from the rest; you will here- 
after have but one object to keep in view, that is 
the pay and support of the young brother, who 
I think deserves the confidence of the board. 

Please to tell the board that 1 feel confident 
in saying to them, that their labors have hitherto 
been blessed; though they are too remote to see 
the benefits that have resulted to the inhabitants 



74 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of these benighted regions, yet they are clearly 
perceptible. The most I have been able to do, 
has been to endeavor to weed in the field, and 
take up ground to be occupied by them, that I 
have done, as I before informed them; they will 
therefore exert all the power and influence they 
possess to occupy and plant those fields: if they 
are regularly attended two or three years, I think 
then you will have pleasure without expense. 
Lott Gary." 

In the early part of the year 1828, Mr. Ash- 
mun left Liberia for the United States, having 
received from his physician a written opinion 
that in this consisted the only hope of restoration 
to health. The entire government of the colony 
devolved on Lott Cary in the absence of the gov- 
ernor. ''I was enabled," says Mr. Ashmun, "to 
arrange the concerns of the colony, with Mr. 
Cary, even to the minutest particulars; and I have 
the greatest confidence that his administration 
will prove satisfactory in a high degree to the 
board, and advantageous to the colony." Mr. 
Gurley in reference to his administration, states, 
that "for six months after the first departure of 
Mr. Ashmun, from the colony, Mr. Cary stood at 



LOTT CAEY. 75 

its head, and conducted himself with such energy 
and wisdom, as to do honor to his previous repu- 
tation, and fix the seal upon his enviable fame. 

"On his death bed Mr. Ashmun urged that Mr. 
Cary should be permanently appointed to conduct 
the affairs of the colony, expressing perfect confi- 
dence in his integrity and ability for that great 
work." 

A new and highly responsible trust was now 
committed to his hands. Nor was he unequal 
to the task. His powers of mind and valuable 
qualities of heart seem to have been increasingly 
developed in this new emergency and with the en- 
tire confidence of the board to which he was ac- 
countable, and the community under his govern- 
ment; he applied himself diligently to the prose- 
cution of duty, A few extracts from his journal 
and letters will no doubt be read with deep inter, 
est, as they evince his practical good sense, and 
fitness for the station he occupied. 

"The colonial agent, J. Ashmun, Esq., went on 
board the brig Doris, March 26th, 1828, escorted 
by three companies of the military, and when 
taking leave, he delivered a short address, which 
was truly affecting; never, I suppose, were greater 
tokens of respect shown by any community on 



76 BIOGRAPHY OF 

taking leave of their head. Nearly the whole 
(at least two-thirds,) of the inhabitants of Monro- 
via, men, women, and children, were out on this 
occasion, and nearly all parted from him with 
tears, and, in my opinion, the hope of his return 
in a few months, alone enabled them to give him 
up. He is indeed dear to this people, and it will 
be a joyful day, when we are again permitted to 
see him. He has left a written address, which 
contains valuable admonitions to officers, civil, 
military, and religious. The brig sailed on the 
27th. May she have a prosperous voyage." 

"Thursday, March 27. 
"Feeling, very sensibly, my incompetency to 
enter upon the duties of my office, without first 
making all the officers of the colony well acquaint- 
ed with the principal objects which should engage 
our attention, I invited them to meet at the 
agency house on the 27th, at 9 o'clock, which 
was punctually attended to; and 1 then read all 
the instructions left by Mr. Ashmun without re- 
serve, and requested their co-operation. I stated 
that it would be our first object to put the jail in 
complete order; secondly, to have our guns and 
armaments in a proper state; and thirdly, to get 
the new settlers located on their lands; as this 



LOTT CARY. 77 

was a very important item in my instructions. 
This explanation will, 1 think, have a good effect; 
as by it the effective part of the colony is put in 
possession of the most important objects of our 
present pursuit; and, I trust, through the blessing 
of the great ruler of events, we shall be able to 
realize all the expectations of Mr. Ashmun, and 
render entire satisfaction to the board of mana- 
gers, if they can reconcile themselves to the 
necessary expenses. 

"March 29. 
"From a note received from Mr. James, dated 
Millsburg, I learn that he visited king Boatswain, 
and that the new road from Boatswain's to Mills- 
burg, will shortly be commenced. — The head men 
expect, how r ever, to be paid for opening the road. 
Messrs. James and Cook, who Came down this 
evening, state, that the Millsburg factory will be 
ready in a few days for the reception of goods, 
and wished consignments might be made early. 
But as I had been on the 27th paying off the kings 
towards the Millsburg lands, and found that one 
hundred and twenty bars came so far short of 
satisfying them, I thought best to see them to- 
gether, before I should attempt to make any 
consignments to that place." 



78 BIOGRAPHY OF 

[The following is the copy of a deed between 
Lott Cary, acting in behalf of the American Colo- 
nization Society, on the one part; and the after 
mentioned kings, on the other.] 

"Know all men by these presents: That we, 
Old King Peter, and King Governor, King James, 
and King Long Peter, do, on this fourth day of 
April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight 
hundred and twenty-eight, grant nto Lott Cary, 
acting agent of the colony of Liberia, in behalf 
of the American Colonization Society, to wit: 

"All that tract of land on the north side of St. 
Paul's river, beginning at king James' line below 
the establishment called Millsburg Settlement, and 
we, the kings as aforesaid, do bargain, sell, and 
grant, unto the said Lott Cary, acting in behalf 
of the American Colonization Society, all the 
aforesaid tract of land, situated and bounded as 
follows: by the St. Paul's river on the south, and 
thence running an east northeast direction up the 
St. Paul's river, as far as he, the said Lott Cary, or 
his successor in the agency, or civil authority of 
the colony of Liberia, shall think proper to take 
up and occupy: and bounded on the west by king 
Jimmey's, and running thence a north direction 
as far as our power and influence extend. We 



LOTT CART/. 79 

do on this day and date, grant as aforesaid for the 
consideration [here follow the articles to be given 
in payment;] and will forever defend the same 
against all claims whatsoever. 

"In witness whereof we set our hands and 
names: 

"OLD Xj KING PETER, 
LONG X KING PETER, 
KING X GOVERNOR, 
KING X JAMES. 
"Signed in the presence of, 

Elijah Johnson, 
Frederick James, 
Daniel George." 

"June 18, 1828. 
"I found it necessary, in order to preserve the 
frame of the second floors of the government 
house, to have the frame and ceiling painted, 
which is now doing. I have also been obliged to 
employ another workman to make the blinds, or 
else leave the house exposed the present season, 
as refused to do it under the former con- 
tract. On the 13th I visited Millsburg, to ascer- 
tain the prospects of that settlement; and can say 
with propriety, that according to the quantity 
of land which the settlers have put under culti- 



80 BIOGRAPHY OF 

vation, they will reap a good and plentiful crop. 
The company's crop of rice and cassada is espe- 
cially promising. The new settlers at that place 
have done well; having all, with two or three ex- 
ceptions, built houses, so as to render their fami- 
lies comfortable during the season. They have 
also each ofthemasmall farm, which I think 
after a few months will be sufficient to subsist 
them. But I find from a particular examination, 
that we shall be obliged to allow them to draw 
rations longer than I expected, owing to the great 
scarcity of country produce, the cassada being so 
nearly exhausted, that it is, and will be, impossi- 
ble to obtain, until new crops come in, much to 
aid our provisions, unless by going some distance 
into the country. Therefore 1 think it indispen- 
sably necessary, in order to keep the settlers to 
their farming improvements, to continue their 
rations longer than I at first intended; as I con- 
sider the present too important a crisis to leave 
them to neglect their improvements, although it 
may add something to our present expenses. 

"The people at Caldwell, are getting on better 
with their farms, than with their houses. I think 
some of them are very slow, notwithstanding I 
have assisted them in building. The gun house, 



LOTT CARY. 81 

at Caldwell, is done; and, at present, preparations 
are making for the iburih of July. I think that 
settlement, generally, is rapidly advancing in farm- 
ing, building, and, I hope, in industry. Our gun 
carriages are done; the completion of the iron 
work alone prevents us from mounting them all 
immediately. We have four mounted, and I think 
we shall put them all in complete order by the 
end of the present week. 

"Captain Russel will be able to give something 
like a fair account of the state of our improve- 
ments, as he went with me to visit the settlements 
on the 13th and 14th, and seemed pleased with 
the prospect at Millsburg, Caldwell and the Half- 
way Farms. 

"Mr. Warner, who has been engaged nearly 
the whole of the last twelve months, on business 
of negotiating with the native tribes to the lee- 
ward, is at present down at Tippecanoe, the place 
whieh I mentioned in my former communications, 
as being a very important section of country, since 
it would connect our Seste-rs and Bassa districts 
together. He is not, however, now engaged in 
business of negotiation, but only in business of 
trade." 

In his letter to the lamented Mr. Ashraun, Mr. 
8 



82 BIOGRAPHY OP 

Cary states: "Things are nearly as you left them; 
most of the work that you directed to be done, is 
nearly accomplished. The plasterers are now at 
work on the government house, and with what 
lime I am having brought down the river, and 
what shells I am getting, I think we shall succeed. 

"The gun house in Monrovia, and the jail, 
have been done for some weeks; the mounting 
of the guns will be done this week, if the weather 
permits. 

"The houses at the Half-way Farms, are done; 
the gun house at Caldwell would have been done 
at this time, had not the rain prevented; but I 
think it will be finished in three or four days. 
The public farm is doing pretty well. The Mills- 
burg farms are doing very well. I think it would 
do you good to see that place at this time. 

"The missionaries, although they have been 
sick, are now, I am happy to inform you, recov- 
ered; and at present are able to attend to their 
business, and I regard them as entirely out of 
danger. 

"I hope we shall be able to remove all the fur- 
niture into the new house, in two or three weeks." 

June 25th, Mr. Cary writes: — "About three 
o'clock to-day there appeared three vessels — two 



LOTT CARY. 83 

brigs and a schooner. The schooner stood into 
the roads, and one of the brigs near in, but show- 
ed no colors until a shot was fired by Captain 
Thompson; when she hoisted Spanish colors, and 
the schooner the same. All their movements ap- 
peared so suspicious, that we turned out all our 
forces to night. About eight this evening, it was 
reported that they were standing out of our roads; 
and at sunset, that the schooner had come to an- 
chor very near the "All Chance," from Boston; 
and that the brig which had passed the cape, 
had put about and was standing up, trying to 
double the cape; and that the third vessel (a brig) 
was standing down for the roads. The first men- 
tioned brig showed nine ports aside. From all 
these circumstances, I thought best to have Fort 
Norris Battery manned, which was immediately 
done by Captain Johnson. 1 also ordered out the 
two volunteer companies to make discoveries 
around the town, and the artillery to support the 
guns, and protect the beach; which orders were 
promptly executed, and we stood in readiness du- 
ring the night. At daylight the schooner lay at 
anchor and appeared to be making no preparations 
to communicate with us; I then ordered a shot to 
be fired at a little distance from her, when she 



48 BIOGKAPHY OF 

sent a boat ashore with her captain, supercargo, 
and interpreter. She reported herself the Joseph, 
from Havana, had been three months on the coast 
trading, but not for slaves, had one gun, and 
twenty-three men. Also, that the brig was a Pa- 
triotic brig in. chase of her, and that through fear 
she had taken shelter under our guns. The cap- 
tain wished a supply of wood and water; but I told 
him I knew him to be engaged in the slave trade, 
and that, though we did not pretend to attempt 
suppressing this trade, we would not aid it, and 
that I allowed him one hour, and one only, to get 
out of the reach of our guns. He was very punc- 
tual; and, I believe, before his hour.'' 

Speaking of the celebration of the fourth of 
July, in the colony, under date of the 15th July, 
Mr. Gary remarks: "The companies observed 
strictly the orders of the day, which I think were 
so arranged as to entitle the officers who drew 
them up to credit. Upon the whole, I am obliged 
to say, that I have never seen the American Inde- 
pendence celebrated with so much spirit and pro- 
priety since the existence of the colony; the guns 
being all mounted and painted, and previously ar- 
ranged for the purpose, added very much to the 
grand salute. Two dinners were given, one by 



LOTT GARY. 85 

the Independent Volunteer Company, and one by 
captain Devany." 

To the secretary of the Society, July 19th, Mr. 
Cary writes: "I have the honor to acknowledge 
the receipt of your letter, forwarded by captain 
Chase, of Providence; also, your Report and Re- 
pository, directed to Mr. Ashmun, but owing to 
his absence, they have fallen into my hands; and 
permit me to say, that these communications are 
read with pleasure, and that nothing affords more 
joy to the colony, than to hear of the prosperity of 
the Colonization Society, and that you have some 
hopes of aid from the general government, which 
makes us more desirous to enlarge our habitation 
and extend the borders of the colony. 

"I must say from the nattering prospects of 
your society, I feel myself very much at a loss 
how to proceed, in the absence of Mr. Ashmun, 
with regard to making provisions for the recep- 
tion of a large number of emigrants, which appears 
to be indispensably necessary. Therefore, after 
receiving your communication, we conceived the 
following to be the most safe and prudent course. 
First, to make arrangements to have erected at 
Millsburg, houses to answer as receptacles suffi- 
cient to shelter from one hundred and fifty to two 



86 BIOGRAPHY OF 

hundred persons. I have therefore extended the 
duties of Mr. Benson, so as to embrace that object. 
1 was led to this course from the following con- 
siderations. First, from the productiveness of 
the Millsburg lands and the fewness of their in- 
habitants. I know if Mr. Ashmun were present, 
it would be a principal object with him to push 
that settlement forward with all possible speed, 
and that for this purpose, he would send the emi- 
grants by the first two or three expeditions to that 
place. 1 think that those from the fresh water 
rivers, if carried directly after their arrival here, 
up to Millsburg, would suffer very little from 
change of climate. Secondly, the fertility of the 
land is such a temptation to the farmer, that un- 
less he possesses laziness in* its extreme degree, 
he cannot resist it; he must and will go to work. 
Thirdly, it is important to strengthen that settle- 
ment against any possible attack; and though we 
apprehend no hostilities from the natives, yet we 
would have each settlement strong enough to re- 
pel them. 

"I am happy to say, that the health, peace, and 
prosperity of the colony, I think is still advancing, 
and I hope that the board of managers may have 
their wishes and expectations realized to their 



LOTT CARY. 87 

fullest extent, with regard to the present and fu- 
ture prosperity of the colony." 

July 17.— "If I could be allowed one suggestion 
to the board of managers, I would mention the 
importance of having here for the use of the colo- 
ny, a vessel large enough to run down as low as 
Cape Palmas. Jt would, I think, be found to save 
a very great expense to the society. She might 
occasionally run up also to Sierra Leone. 

"Until we can raise crops sufficient to supply a 
considerable number of new comers every year, 
such an arrangement as will enable us to proceed 
farther to the leeward, than we have ever done, 
in order to procure supplies, will be indispensably 
necessary; as there we can procure Indian corn, 
palm oil, and live stock. For these, neither the 
slave traders, nor others, give themselves much. 
Corn can be bought there for from fifteen to twenty 
cents per bushel. Fifteen or twenty bushels, 
which I bought of captain Woodbury, I have been 
using instead of rice, for the last two months. 
Besides, it can be ground into meal, and would be 
better than any that can be sent. Upon the sup- 
posed inquiry, will not the lands of the colony 
produce corn? — they will produce it in abundance; 
but, with the quantity of lands appropriated at 



SO BIOGEAPHV OP 

present, and the means to cultivate them, each 
land-holder will, I think, be able to raise but lit- 
tle more than may be required by his own family, 
and consequently, will have little to dispose of to 
new comers.* 

"Permit me to inform the board, that propo- 
sals have been made by a number of very res- 
pectable citizens in Monrovia, to commence a set- 
tlement near the head of the Montserado river, 
which would be a kind of farming establishment; 
which, should it be the pleasure of the board to 
approve, would be followed up with great spirit, 
and found to contribute largely towards increas- 
ing our crops, for the soil is very promising." 

The following letter was addressed to the se- 
cretary of the American Colonization Society, 
under date of May 7th, 1828: "There have been 
no very important changes either in the state or 
face of the colony, since Mr. Ashmun left, except 
by the rapid progress of the farming establish- 
ments, and the Half-way Farms, Caldwell, and 
Millsburg. As I visited all those establishments 
during Friday and Saturday, the second and third 
of May, I am happy to say, that the prospect for 

* It has been resolved by the board of managers to in- 
crease the quantity of land allotted to each settler. 



LOTT CARY. &59 

crops, the present season, is tenfold, and that I 
think these settlements will be beyond the reach 
of suffering, before the close of the present season. 

"About six of the families that commenced at 
Millsburg, very late in March, are nearly housed, 
and some of them have two acres, at least, of 
land, in order for planting. 

"I have judged it best to help them a little, in 
getting their houses erected, and in planting, and 
to furnish them with seeds and tools, which they 
had not; — and, as soon as their farms are planted, 
it is my intention to stop altogether issuing ra- 
tions to all who are able to earn wages, or subsist 
themselves, and only feed the poor women and 
children, in a way, if possible, to get them safe 
through the rainy season; before which time, I 
trust his honor, Mr. Ashmun, will return. As to 
the new settlers in Caldwell, I have found it ne- 
cessary to do rather more than for those at Mills- 
burg, as the latter have lands more easy to clear, 
and the timber for erecting their houses, is more 
convenient. There are several families, which 
have made astonishing progress. Those sent out 
by colonel B. in particular, have cleared land suf- 
ficient, if they can possibly succeed in getting 
it planted, to render their families entirely corn- 



90 BIOGRAPHY OP 

fortable, by the close of the ensuing season; and, 
I trust, with the little help that I am now giving 
them, that they will be comfortably housed on 
their own lands in two or three weeks.'' 

The secretary of the American Colonization 
Society, in referring to the missionary spirit by 
which Elder Cary was actuated, employs the fol- 
lowing language: "But, amid his multiplied cares 
and efforts for the colony, he never forgot or ne- 
glected to promote the objects of the African 
Missionary Society, for which he had long cher- 
ished the strongest attachment. His great object 
in emigrating to Africa, was to extend the power 
and blessings of the Christian religion. Before 
his departure from Richmond, a little church of 
about half a dozen members, was formed,* who 
were to accompany him. He became the pastor 
of this church, in Africa, and saw its numbers 
greatly increased. Most earnestly did he seek ac- 
cess to the native tribes, and endeavor to instruct 
them in the doctrines and duties of that religion, 
which, in his own case, had proved so powerful 
to purify, exalt, and save. In one or two instances 



* The members were L. Cary and wife, Collin Teage 
and wife, and son Hillary Teage, and Joseph Langfbrd 
and wife. 



LOTT CAEY. 91 

of hopeful conversion from heathenism, he greatly- 
rejoiced; and many of his latest and most anxious 
thoughts were directed to the establishment of 
native schools in the interior. One such school, 
distant seventy miles from Monrovia, and of great 
promise, was established through his agency, about 
a year before his death, and patronised and su- 
perintended by him until that mournful event. 
On this subject, by his many valuable communi- 
cations to the missionary board, 'he being dead 
yet speaketh' in language which must affect the 
heart of every true Christian disciple." 

It now becomes the biographer's painful duty 
to approach the tragic scene, which terminated 
the life and labors of this useful man. To our 
weak perceptions, this event seems mysterious. 
That he should have passed through the midst of 
war and pestilence, unhurt, and then by a sudden 
disaster be hurried out of the world, is to us most 
unaccountable. He was cut off, too, in the midst 
of his usefulness, and in the vigor of his days. 
But while "clouds and darkness" hang over this 
providence, it is a pleasing reflection, that "justice 
and judgment are the habitation of God's throne, 
mercy and truth go before his face." The first 
intelligence of his death, was communicated by 



92 BIOGRAPHY OP 

Dr. Randall, in the following extract: "On my 
arrival here, I was much shocked to find, that 
the vice agent, Mr. Cary, had been killed, a few 
weeks before, by the accidental explosion of gun- 
powder. His death was a great loss to our cause, 
as he had much influence with his people, both 
here, and in the United States; an election for 
his successor had taken place." 

The circumstances of this melancholy event, 
in the words of Mr. Gurley, were these: "The 
factory belonging to the colony at Digby, (a few 
miles north of Monrovia,) had been robbed by the 
natives; and satisfaction being demanded was re- 
fused. A slave trader was allowed to land his 
goods in the very house where the goods of the 
colony had been deposited, and a letter of remon- 
strance and warning directed to the slave dealer, 
by Mr. Cary, was actually intercepted and de- 
stroyed by the natives. In this state of affairs, Mr. 
Cary considered himself solemnly bound to as- 
sert the rights and defend the property of the 
colony. He therefore called out instantly, the 
military of the settlements, and commenced 
making arrangements to compel the natives to 
desist from their injurious and unprovoked in- 
fringements, upon the territory and rights of the 



LOTT CARY. 93 

colony. On the evening of the 8th of November, 
while Mr. Gary, and several others were engaged 
in making cartridges in the old agency house, a 
candle appears to have been accidentally upset, 
which caught some loose powder, and almost in- 
stantaneously reached the entire ammunition, 
producing an explosion, which resulted in the 
death of eight persons. Six of these unfortunate 
persons survived until the 9th, and Mr. Cary, and 
one other, until the 10th." 

When the mournful news of Lott Gary's death 
reached the United States, a deep sensation was 
produced among the friends of the Liberian col- 
ony, and especially among many of his brethren, 
who had become familiar with his self-denying 
toils in a distant land. 

The following tribute to the memory of this 
man of God, is extracted from the proceedings 
of the Richmond African Missionary Society at 
their annual meeting in 1829. 

"The loss which has thus been sustained can- 
not, in our estimation, be easily repaired. This 
excellent man seems to have been raised up by 
divine Providence for the special purpose of taking 
an active part in the management of the infant 
settlement. His discriminating judgment, his 



94 BIOGRAPHY OF 

honesty of heart, and decision of character, quali- 
fied him eminently for this service. But espe- 
cially in his relation to your society is his death 
to be sincerely lamented. It will be recollected 
that he was the principal instrument in the origin 
of this society, and for several years acted as its 
recording secretary. A little more than eight 
years ago, he received his appointment, and sailed, 
as missionary, in company with brother Teage, 
for the land of their forefathers. His exertions 
as a minister in that land have been of the most 
devoted and untiring kind. In the communica- 
tions which have been received by the board, he 
seemed to possess the most anxious concern for 
the salvation of the perishing multitudes around 
him. Through his instrumentality a considera- 
ble church has been collected together, which 
seems to be in a prosperous and growing con- 
dition. Sabbath and week day schools have 
been instituted for the instruction of native chil- 
dren and the children of the colony, which have 
proved eminently useful. We were looking for- 
ward with confidence to the more perfect con- 
summation of our wishes, when that moral de- 
sert should rejoice and blossom as the rose; but 
God has seen fit to cross our expectations, in call- 



LOTT CARY. 95 

ing from his station this laborious missionary. 
It becomes us to bow with submission to the 
stroke, and to realize the saying of the apostle, 
'how unsearchable are his judgments and his 
ways past finding out.' Although we were not 
permitted to receive his dying testimony to the 
truth, we have the fullest assurance that our loss 
is his unspeakable and eternal gain. 

In closing this memoir it will not be doing vio- 
lence to truth, to say, that Lott Cary was among 
the most gifted men of the present age. Appro- 
priately was it remarked that "he was one of na- 
ture's noblemen." Under more favorable cir- 
cumstances, he would have been on a level with 
the most intellectual and honored of his race. 
He possessed a mind of no ordinary grade. This 
was evinced from the period of his employment 
at the warehouse in Richmond, to his elevation 
as presiding officer in the colony of Liberia. 
There was a clearness and vigor of thought en- 
abling him to combine and compare ideas, and 
to reach with ease, the best and most rational 
conclusion. If opportunity had allowed, he would 
have excelled in mathematical knowledge. It 
will be remembered by the reader that the meri- 
dian of life was nearly reached before he became 



96 BIOGRAPHY OF 

acquainted with the alphabet of his own lan- 
guage. 

As a speaker he was interesting and instructive. 
It was stated by one who knew him well and 
sometimes heard him in the city of Richmond, 
that in "preaching, notwithstanding his gram- 
matical inaccuracies, he was often truly eloquent. 
He had derived almost nothing from the schools, 
and his manner was of course unpolished, but his 
ideas would sometimes burst upon you in all their 
native solemnity, and awaken deeper feelings 
than the most polished, but less original dis- 
courses.'' His sermons were not merely ebulli- 
tions of zeal without knowledge; they were full 
of sentiment. He was himself accustomed to 
think, and in simplicity and godly sincerity he 
gave utterance to the truth. Many testimonials 
to the power of his address might be famished. 
A Baptist minister of intelligence who heard his 
farewell address was almost overpowered by the 
violence of feelings which it occasioned. He af- 
terwards stated that he believed he had never list- 
ened to such a discourse. A minister of distinc- 
tion connected with the Presbyterian church, 
stated "a sermon which I heard from Mr. Cary 
shortly before he sailed for Africa, was the best 



LOTT CARY. 97 

extemporaneous discourse 1 ever heard. It con- 
tained more original and impressive thoughts, some 
of which are distinct in my memory and never can 
be forgotten." 

One of the chief excellencies of his character, 
consisted in his unbending integrity. He aimed 
most conscientiously to discharge his duty, what- 
ever might be the consequences. And the benev- 
olence of his heart continually inclined him to 
seek happiness in dispensing good to others. His 
labors as a missionary, in Africa, were performed 
for the most part gratuitously, as the funds appro- 
priated by the African Missionary Society of 
Richmond, and the board of the general conven- 
tion were employed in compensating teachers, and 
otherwise supporting the schools. We see him 
when almost all around are either sick or dying, 
visiting from house to house, not only adminis- 
tering consolation as a servant of Christ, but in 
the character of physician and nurse. These ser- 
vices too, were performed without the prospect of 
compensation. 

In his death the colony, and Africa herself, 
lost a devoted friend. His memory doubtless will 
long be revered by the Liberians, and generations 
yet unborn will have reason to call him blessed. 
9* 



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